This guy is bold

I found this quote from Frank Page. I think what he has to say about the SBC can be said of other denominations that I have heard of.

"Outgoing Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page had a sobering message for his fellow Southern Baptists: change or die. Page said that unless the church changes its methodology more than half of the Southern Baptist churches will disappear in the near future. “If we don't start paying attention to the realities … by the year 2030, we will be proud to have 20,000 rather than 44,000 Southern Baptist churches.” In order to avoid a decline Page recommends that the church reach out to ethnic minorities and young people. Page described the convention as consisting largely of “older white people holding on till they die.” [Tennessean, 6/1/08]"

Takes some boldness to say this.

Interesting church

I just read an article about a small church that purchased a hotel / bar / convention area and moved the church in to it. The church is called the Eastside Foursquare Church in Portland, Oregon. They continued to operate the hotel. The bar was turned in to a children's area. The hotel had a history of hookers, drugs, violence and all sorts of stuff. All of that stopped.

The church as grown over 10 times what they started with. The profits of the hotel are funneled back in to the church to operate a drug recovery, support groups and homeless outreaches.

How creative. No need to build a multi million dollar place. They did not choose prime real estate. They went to where a need is and met a need. It was not some off site outreach, they moved the whole operation to the church. You can even stay in the hotel and get a pastor 24 hours a day if need be.

Update #4

Well it is official. The mayor called me last night and told me that I was not selected. He did encourage me to run next year. He did aske me would I consider serving on a city board. I told him that I would be glad to serve.